Congressman Raul Grijalva Joins Local Health Center and Pfizer to Honor Community Caregivers
YUMA, Ariz., Aug. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Sunset Community Health Center, Inc. announced that it will be joined at an event tomorrow by U.S. Congressman Raul Grijalva (AZ-7), Arizona State Senator Amanda Aguirre and Pfizer Inc. to celebrate National Health Center Week 2008. The event will recognize the “health care heroes” on staff at Sunset Community Health Center, Inc., one of Arizona’s 36 member Health Centers that provide uninsured, underserved and low-income people with access to quality primary care services.
With hundreds of events hosted at Community Health Centers across the country from August 10 through 16, National Health Center Week focuses America’s attention on the vital but often underappreciated role that health care professionals, policymakers and volunteers play in their communities. Health centers have a significant impact on our national health care system, saving between $9.9 billion and $17.6 billion each year by helping patients avoid emergency rooms and make better use of preventive services.
This year’s National Health Center Week theme, “America’s Health Centers: Home of America’s Health Care Heroes,” honors the men and women who dedicate their lives to caring for patients who rely on community-based health services. Tomorrow’s event will acknowledge the vital role and significant contributions of Mary Castillo, one of the many health center staffers devoted to improving the health and welfare of the 1.3 million uninsured Arizona residents.
“People like Mary Castillo, who devote their lives to bettering the lives of others, are a resource that is in short supply,” said U.S. Congressman Raul Grijalva. “It is my absolute pleasure to stand alongside the staff of Sunset Community Health Center, Inc. and Pfizer, two organizations that have successfully joined forces in a public/private partnership to produce a healthier, safer and more productive Arizona.”
Pfizer supports Community Health Centers like Sunset Community Health Center, Inc. through one of its patient assistance programs called Sharing the Care(TM), which was launched in 1993 to make Pfizer medicines available for free to eligible health center patients. Through Sharing the Care, Pfizer partners with more than 450 health centers in 49 states. In just the past five years, Pfizer has provided nearly 9.6 million prescriptions, valued at more than $780 million, to more than 2.4 million Community Health Center patients.
“Due to rising health insurance premiums and an increasing number of employers dropping health benefits, more and more of our colleagues, friends and neighbors are turning to community health services for care,” said David D. Rogers, CEO of Sunset Community Health Center, Inc. “Since our partnership began more than a decade ago, Pfizer has proven to be a committed ally in our efforts to make better health an attainable goal for Yuma’s residents who, through no fault of their own, may not otherwise get the care they need, when they need it.”
Tomorrow’s event will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Fernando Padilla Community Center, located at 800 E. Juan Sanchez Blvd., San Luis, AZ. The event is free and the public is encouraged to attend. For more information, visit http://www.healthcenterweek.org/ or call 928-539-3085.
“Pfizer is dedicated to supporting community service organizations that improve access to quality health care. We are fortunate to have partners in this mission, like Sunset Community Health Center — a fixture of Yuma’s health care community — and Congressman Raul Grijalva, who has persisted in his efforts to improve the health of the citizens of Arizona,” said Gary Pelletier, director of Pfizer Helpful Answers(R). “Tomorrow, we will recognize just one of Arizona’s many health care heroes, a representative of the deep commitment made by Community Health Centers to improve the health of Arizona’s most vulnerable residents.”
About Sunset Community Health Center, Inc.
Sunset Community Health Center, Inc. is a migrant and community health center, receiving Section 329 and 330 funding through the Public Health Service to provide health services to the residents of Yuma County. Sunset is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization governed by a 15 member Community Board of Directors operating out of five sites strategically located in Yuma County. Sunset began receiving funding through a Public Health Service grant to the Yuma County Migrant Health Program in 1972. Services were provided out of a trailer in Somerton during those early days. Sunset Community Health Center has been in operation since 1976, originally under the name of Valley Health Center. Sunset provides a comprehensive array of primary care services such as medical, dental, pharmacy, and OB/GYN services. The emphasis in the provision of primary care services is upon prevention, health maintenance of patients with chronic conditions, tracking, and follow-up of patients referred to specialty or other services. Sunset also provides Diabetes education and translation services.
About the National Association of Community Health Centers
Founded in 1970, NACHC is a non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance and expand access to quality, community-responsive health care for America’s medically underserved and uninsured. In serving its mission, NACHC represents the nation’s network of over 1,000 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) which serve 17 million people through 6,300 sites located in all of the 50 states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam.
About Pfizer Sharing the Care
Pfizer Sharing the Care(TM) is part of Pfizer Helpful Answers(R), a family of programs that helps people without prescription coverage save on many Pfizer medicines, no matter their age or income. People with limited income may even qualify to get their Pfizer medicine for free. Consumers without prescription drug coverage who need a Pfizer medicine can call the Pfizer Helpful Answers toll-free number, 1-866-706-2400, or visit the Web site, http://www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com/. Pfizer Helpful Answers is a joint program of Pfizer Inc. and the Pfizer Patient Assistance Foundation(TM).
CONTACT: Lucy Murrieta Sunset Community Health Center, Inc. Office: 928-529-3085 Cell: 928-502-2314 lmurrieta@sunset-chc.org Tory Archibald APCO Worldwide Cell: 917-697-4891 varchibald@apcoworldwide.com
Sunset Community Health Center, Inc.
CONTACT: Lucy Murrieta of Sunset Community Health Center, Inc.,+1-928-529-3085, Cell: +1-928-502-2314, lmurrieta@sunset-chc.org; or ToryArchibald, Cell: +1-917-697-4891, varchibald@apcoworldwide.com, for SunsetCommunity Health Center, Inc.
Web Site: http://www.healthcenterweek.org/